Thursday, the 11th April 2013, the strike at the Musée du Louvre was finally over, so the kids finally got to go there. I stayed at the apartment again and would meet up with them for a late lunch. A little past 1pm, Catha sent me a text message saying the kids already asked to have lunch, so I walked to the Louvre, met up with them, and we walked over to Café Angelina (226 rue de Rivoli 75001 Paris, France).

Café Angelina has been around forever, so most everyone knows about it, its deservedly famous hot chocolate, pastries, etc. It is not to be missed when one is in Paris, and Catha & I never do. I understand Café Angelina now has branches in the USA and elsewhere, and, one can now even order their hot chocolate mix online. Cool.

Since I had made reservations for that night's dinner at Alain Ducasse's Aux Lyonnais, I suggested that everyone stick to the lighter side of lunch.

Mauro's Black Truffle Omelette w/ Salad.

Catha & Joaqi had an order each of the Foie Gras Terrine.

I had the Avocat Salade - "avocat" is French "avocado", but it also means "lawyer" - so, of course, I had it (para healthy). Great salad. It did have a moderately sized slab of foie gras, so I gave more than half of it to the kids. I had a glass of basic bourgogne blanc to wash it down.

Lorenzo decided to forego the savories and went straight to dessert...

..washing it down with the signature Hot Chocolate.

Once our light lunch was done, we moved on to dessert.

My Tarte Citron.

Joaqi's chosen desserts.

Catha's Napoleon-esque Mille-feuille.

Mauro & Lorenzo got assorted Macarons...

...in their chosen flavors.

Naturally, we all had the signature Hot Chocolate.

Loved the lunch.

After lunch, Catha and Mauro headed back to the Louvre, and Lorenzo went off on his own shopping for clothes. Joaqi had had enough of the museum, and wanted to ride the Batobus around Paris. Of course, I took him for the ride he wanted.

At around 5:45pm, Catha messaged me that she and Mauro were finishing up in the Louvre so Joaqi and I headed back to meet them at my usual hangout in the Tuileries. I called Lorenzo, who was, by then, back in the apartment, and he said he'd just take the Metro and meet us at the restaurant by 7:45pm.

Aux Lyonnais par Alain Ducasse (32 rue St-Marc 75002, Paris, France) is a very old bistro. Back in 1890, the structure was used to store coal, then wood, then wine. In 1914, the Fouet family (who owned it at the time) decided to open the room facing the street to present their wines to the public. Daniel Violet, known for his passion for the cuisine of Lyon, eventually took over and, by after WWII, turned it into, reputedly, the hottest spot in Paris. In 2002, Alain Ducasse, took the reins, and the rest is history.

This is another bistro that Catha & I always make a point to dine at whenever in Paris.

Bugey Cerdon for apéritifs.

Sliced baguettes served in a little sack weighed down by beads.

Everyone save Lorenzo started with the famous Oeufs Cocottes.

Personally, I find them better than those of Joël Robuchon. The kids liked them too.

Joaqi chose the night's special Boeuf Rôti, which he said was "very ordinary".

The night's red was a 2006 Doamine Michel Lafarge Volnay Vendanges Sélectionnées - Very nice in itself, and quite impressive for a village level Volnay. Alluring, typical nose, the fruit properly well-ripened. Good heft, but light-footed, with a silken texture on the palate. Notable purity and focus, precise acidity. Very nicely balanced. Again, for what it is, I was quite impressed; and, it went well with my boudin noir and the bit of foie de veau that Lorenzo shared with me.

Noel Ermitano wrote:2006 Doamine Michel Lafarge Volnay Vendanges Sélectionnées - Very nice in itself, and quite impressive for a village level Volnay...Again, for what it is, I was quite impressed

As you probably know (and can see in the name), it is a village wine from special plots so it should be better than most village Volnays. I had several bottles of this 06 VS from about 2009-2012 and also really enjoyed it, but it had started to shut down by my last bottle and the tannins were getting fierce. Sounds like I should have waited a bit longer for it to re-emerge!

Yes, I know, my French isn't that bad when it comes to wine and food. There are many labels that claim special/selected this, old that, etc., but, although I know what they mean, I let the wine speak for itself.